10 'entitled' people

During the course of our lives, we find that we all feel like we are entitled to something.  Some of us more than others.  Sometimes it depends on our circumstance, other times it depends more on our disposition.  These are 10 entitled people that I've seen,  Not all the people in any given category have the feeling of entitlement, but in a stereotypical way, many do.

10. Exercisers - Specifically those that exercise on the roads and sidewalks.  They seem to think that they have so much right to the pavement that others should simply understand that they need to get out of the way.  These oblivious workout mavens often wander around the road and it's up to you to keep them safe while you ride around in your lazy fuel burning non exercising conveyance.

9. Motorcyclists - I've always liked the idea of a motorcycle.  it seems really exciting.  The problem is, it's small and completely without any kind of protection.  If you wear a helmet, that's probably a good idea.  But they zip around on the road in ways that a car would never dare.  They buzz down the lines during busy traffic and take liberties around the cars that they should be the most careful around.  If motorcycles were invented a year ago, there is NO WAY they would ever be considered street legal.  Yet here they are, legal and driving around like they can't get hurt.  Cars that have bumper stickers that say 'Start seeing motorcycles' should have another one that says 'Start seeing cars'.

8. Kids and Allowance - When kids are young, they have an idea of what allowance is, but they are really not sure about money or anything else.  As they get older and the allowance begins to mean more, they believe that their allowance is a part of a regular program.  When they are taken off allowance and put on chores to earn money, they initially are annoyed that money they once got for just existing now must come by the sweat of their brow.  That's if you're lucky and persistent.  Otherwise, the allowance comes without actual regard to the tasks performed.  If the payment for the 'chores' is not requisite to the task, the kids will not appreciate an actual job where they will likely be paid less for harder work.

7. Artists - When I speak of artists, I do not speak of those that work with different mediums to create artwork both commercial and personal.  I'm talking about the Ar-teest.  Those that believe that their high minded ideas are in fact so important that they can not be bothered with the shackles and trappings of regular life within the species.  I understand the importance of creating representations and points of view.  It's what separates us from the animals.  Art that finds nobody to value it other than the artist is still technically art, may be ahead of it's time, but it is not entitled to much else.

6. College Graduates - It's sad really.  The state of the Wizard of Oz like sheen that Academic Education once enjoyed is on the ropes and probably on it's last legs.  You see, people that used to get their degree would assume that they could find gainful employ.  These graduates believe that they should have employment by force of their certification.  Now that this isn't the case, many decide to default on their loans and leave them for everyone else to pay.  99% indeed.

5. Relatives - There are some relatives that believe that because of their relationship with other members of their blood that they can take advantage of that relationship in any number of ways.  It doesn't happen in every family but it happens in enough of them that it makes the list.  Every family seems to have that member that believes that they are entitled to the resources of everyone else in their family.  After all, if you can't count on family, who can you count on.  Just be thankful you have family, and don't feel entitled.

4. People with God/Not God on their side - Somehow people with convictions that they can't prove specifically seem to believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion.  They blather on about what you should or shouldn't believe in.  As though they've had thoughts that are unique and new to everyone around them.  Their feeling of entitlement is nothing more than to be taken seriously based on what they believe.  I often wonder if this force is actually born of their lack of belief and their desire to continually re-establish it.

3. People that need expertise that you have - I've noticed this in computers, but I think it's probably true in many professions.  If someone needs help and you can give it to them.  They assume that you are duty bound by your knowledge to not only give it to them, but in a way that doesn't make them feel bad about not knowing what you know.  Of course the difference is when the person that expects this also happens to be the person that signs your paycheck.

2. Original Story Fans - This day and age we have come to realize that there are only so many stories to tell. They are all variations on a theme.  The trick is in presenting that tale in a way that seems fresh to the observer.  In the case of movie remakes, there is always an original.  Those fans of the original seem to be entitled to tell people how the remake SHOULD BE.  I've likely been guilty of this myself.

1. Large Campaign Donors - So you want your guy to win.  Bravo.  You want that candidate to win so badly that you actually give that person a bit of your hard earned money.  When you donate a little, you have little or no right to expect any kind of favor from the representative of your choice.  However for some reason if you donate a LOT of money, you seem to think that you have something coming to you.  This is a problem no matter where it presents itself.  This is why Campaign finance reform is so important.

Well, that's the list.  Sorry if it's more toothy than usual, but I guess I'm all out of gummy subjects.  Thanks for reading!

10 Signs held by beggars

Begging is a time honored tradition that dates back to the Bible and earlier.  I knew a man in the Netherlands that claimed that he made as much money begging on weekends from tourists as he did working at his job in a bank. If you've decided to give up and try to skirt the system that pays you for not being able to work by begging for money you don't have to report, you might want to try some of these signs to help on lookers part with a bit of their cash.

1 - Will work for food - A classic.  Usually you'll find this one held by someone that appears to be able bodied, but is probably not clean shaven and maybe a bit grubby.  The idea is that somehow if you were to give this man a good meal, he would do some simple yard work or maybe cleanup on a construction site.  Of course it would just be easier to give him money.

2 - Help feed pete - A different take on the Work for food mentioned above.  This one features a grubby man that doesn't really look like he cares along with a dog.  The man's given up.  Life wins.  But then he must think about his poor companion.  Pete the dog.  What about pete?  Who will step up and take care of Pete? Won't you help the man feed pete?  I witnessed this one in San Francisco.

3 - Anything helps - Sure it does.  A man has fallen on desperation.  He has made every effort, but life has simply dealt him a 9 high in the pai gow hand of life.  The man using this sign just lacks any creativity.  Any assistance at all is appreciated?  This is really open ended.  Anything helps what?  helps who?  I guess a spare dollar will help.  I usually see the anything helps guy on the entrance to a wall mart or maybe a sams club.

4 - Help a vet - Many times, but not always a grizzled man in fatigues.  The military angle is popular because we know that there are people that have been injured and left behind that have given their very lives in military service.  I would like to think that a beggar wouldn't say this unless he was an actual veteran.  Then again, I would like to think that a veteran would have even more access to institutionalized help then the standard indigent.

5 - Ran out of gas - Just a regular guy that forgot his wallet or had it stolen.  I always wonder how this guy could lose his wallet yet have cardboard and marker to make a sign. This one gets better the more expensive gas is.  Once he's collected enough for a tank of gas he has to either fill up and go on his way, or clear the money out of his card board box so it appears he doesn't have enough for a gallon or two.

6 - Stranded - This guy usually looks ok, just a bit bewildered.  Though the fickle hand of fate he is stranded and only needs a new car part to be on his way.  A friend of mine offered to go to the parts store and help this guy out because him in the same place on the way to work every day for a few days in a row.  The guy didn't want that.  The next day he offered the guy a part again and he accepted.  They went to the parts store and he bought the guy a part and the guy wanted the receipt as well as the part.  clever.

7 - Beer Money - Regular looking man usually with a beer gut.  This straightforward sign was seen by me in New Orleans many moons ago.  I thought it was refreshing in the wake of so many that were willing to work for food.  Someone must have figured out that sometimes humor is just as likely to get you a donation as pathos.

8 - My baby is hungry - The only female entry in the list (yes I really only tend to see men with these signs.  Sometimes they bring their kids along to enhance the call of their need, but it's still a man with a sign).  I've only seen this with women in European tourist locations.  A woman will be sitting with a small (sometimes not small) child that is just enough to tug at the heart strings of the wives of husbands on vacation.  I would say it might tug at the husband's heart strings as well, but I'm going with the odds. here.  Everyone knows tourists have deep pockets.

9 - Help the 99% - Usually some kind of hippy dude with the matted dread lock hair.  I thought it was interesting because it put you in the temporary role of the 1%.  I know that while I'm probably doing better than your average sign beggar, I'm not really even close to a 1% er.  So I'm not really sure what the sign is saying.  By not giving, I'm still helping the 99%.

10 - New business seeks venture capital funding -  ha ha.  very funny.  Along the same vein as Beer money, but with a high brow approach.  I've never seen a venture capital seeker looking for a financial angel among the rank and file walking by.  He never mentioned what his venture was to be.  Probably a new kind of cardboard.











I understand the plight of the desperate and how they need help.  I will give you this bit of advice.  When you see a beggar carrying a sign looking for a hand out.  MOST of them are looking for money to feed the device that brought them to this point of their lives.  Now I could be wrong about some of them, if that's the case.  I'm sorry.  But if you feel that you should donate to these sign carriers even though your chances of helping instead of feeding more hurt is not very good; look for your local homeless shelter.  Give that institution a buck or two and know your money is doing some good.